Storm Large Air Strong Dust Types Common Moves

A "storm" is a large "disturbance" (change from the normal) in the "atmosphere" (the air surrounding the surface of planet earth), but there are many different types of storms. Probably the most common type of storm is a "thunderstorm," but other names for it include "lightning storm," "thundershower," or "electrical storm." This is a type of storm with large, dark clouds, strong wind, heavy rain, "lightning" (streaks of light in the sky that appear for short periods of time), and "thunder" (loud sounds heard shortly after lightning appears in the sky). If the storm includes "hail" (pieces of ice that fall from the sky, almost like rain), it is called a hailstorm. Sometimes the "hailstones" (single pieces of hail) can be as large as a golf ball.

A "downburst" is a strong "current" (movement of air or water) of air that moves downward from a large cloud. A "wet downburst" is created by a thunderstorm and is associated with a lot of rain. A "dry downburst" is also created by a thunderstorm, but is associated with very little rain. In the United States, downbursts "tend to occur" (usually happen) in the Great Lakes Region near the border with Canada.

During a "dust storm" or a "sand storm," very strong wind moves a large amount of dust or sand from one place to another. Dust storms most often happen in "arid" (dry) areas where there has been poor "land management" (how people take care of the land), especially where fields have been left "uncovered" (without any plants, with the soil exposed to the wind). In the United States, dust storms are most common during dry summer months in "agricultural" (farming) areas in the Midwest.